Darlene,

Here was my solution to the same problem. I simply cut a slit on 2 diagonal corners to create a "slip joint". Don't do it on all 4 corners as ith would weaken the Aeration Bench.

Raybo

[IMG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/rnewste/IMG_slit.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/rnewste/IMG_slit2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/rnewste/IMG_box.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh67/rnewste/IMG_EarthTainer.jpg[/IMG]

Sorry about the (IMG). Just copy the link starting with http through jpg (leave out the (IMG) on both ends. One day I'll be able to figure out how to post actual photos in the threads.

Ray

This time in HTML

Raybo

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mewste;
thank you sooo much, I had thought about that,but didn't know if it would work. I will try it your way. you have a great looking earthbox. I like the t-cages being attached to the box. I still have to build a trellis for my two boxes I'm building. thanks for the pics. helps alot. let you know if it works me.
darlene

Darlene,
One other tip when filling your EB with the Potting Mix.. Lay a row of foam peanuts around the edge of the aeration bench, as this will prevent the Potting Mix from going down the sides in the gap, and getting into your drain hole.

Raybo

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Raybo, that is some fine craftsmanship there. The best I have ever seen.

gardenscout,

Thanks. Those photos were of Serial #01. I am now on Unit #13 (out of 28 when done) in construction, and have improved a number of things since constructing the first one. I have also adapted the EarthBox Company's Automated Watering System so I won't ever have to manually water again.

Raybo

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Can you please elaborate on " I have also adapted the EarthBox Company's Automated Watering System so I won't ever have to manually water again"?

I took the AWS unit, removed the 12" filler tube they came with, and used a 1.5" ABS filler tube cut to a new length of 15.5" to accommodate the deeper depth of my DYI EarthTainer.

See link: http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/EarthBox/prodinfo.asp?number=EB%2DWS%2D12+EB+KIT

Ray

mewste, I did as you suggested and it worked fine. also i notice you have fastened your soil basket to the base with screws., does that work better? another thing i wanted to ask is do the t-cages bend from the weight of the plants? I will use styrofoam p-nuts on the sides. thanks for all your help. I'm looking forward to planting the boxes.

darlene

How did you attach your tomato cages to the inside of the box?

Darlene,

I wanted all possible structural rigidity - so I used 4 self-tapping screws into the wicking basket. There is a lot of weight on the aeration bench from the moist potting mix (far more weight than from the tomato plants themselves). So this area of the aeration bench needs maximum support.

The tomato cages are fastened to each other at hoopset 3 and hoopset 4, plus inserted into the bench in 6 places. The guy-wire rigging (like on a sailboat) is key to keeping everything secure.

Magnolia,

I used 1/8" Wire Rope Clamps to secure on the legs, then put a large fender washer between it and the base to spread the load. (This photo shows the cages inverted, as it is easier to put the bench on through the pre-drilled leg holes upside down).

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I will be doing a .pdf like "josho" did when I finish all of the EarthTainers and AWS systems, in about 2 to 3 weeks.

Raybo

Has anyone bought the new earthbox watering system? Does it come with easy directions? I'm not an engineer but an automatic watering system would be great.

beverly,

I think the Automated Watering System from the EarthBox folks is the best purchase I have ever made. It is simple, with no moving parts - - and for $12.50 per container, it was a no-brainer for me to get. I had to be careful to adapt it to my 31 gallon 'Tainers, but all that it required was a longer fill tube than the one shipped with the original unit.

Raybo

Hey rnewste..what do you use to top off your containers? I've
used white bags in the past to seal off any excess rain water seeping in and messing up the fertilizer strip..
I like the idea of using the foam peanuts..never tried that..
but to keep excess soil from falling into the reservoir I used
window screen material..not metal screen..it worked well.

As we don't get any rain here (San Jose) from May until October,I don't really have to worry about water seeping into the EarthTainer. I use black trash bags for the mulch layer, and as the sun heats up the 'Tainers later in the Summer, I am going to sprinkle a thin layer of bark mulch on top of the black mulch.

Raybo

On keeping the potting mix from falling through the holes and down the sides into bottom. I cut weed block fabric so it covers the bottom and slightly up the sides. When filling EB just be careful and bank the mix against the fabric along the sides so it seals any opening. Also you have to cut holes in fabric for the wicking chamber. Worked fine in 2007 as didn't have any problems with water being wicked up and mix staying moist.

Thanks, Raybo, for your efforts and hard work. You are appreciated more than you know.

Hi Earl,

I like your approach of the weed block fabric, better than the packing peanuts I used. Improvement for next year!!

BTW, I have 3 Earl's Faux now planted in my best sunlight position in the garden. Your BLT pictures are an inspiration.

Raybo

Second post, first one seems to have disappeared! Anyway, great thread and thanks to all who have contributed.

My question: I bought a yard of organic mulch from a local farmer and a yard of topsoil from a local business. Is it ok to use them in some combination in my earthbox instead of buying potting soil?

Thanks!

Lann

Lann,

Strong "NO" on using topsoil in an earthbox. In fact, "NO" on potting SOIL. The only growing medium you should use is potting MIX. EarthBoxes need a porous growing medium for aeration and water wicking.

Raybo

Hi Raybo: I've been following your incredible work for months on two different websites and am fascinated and am IN AWE by your methodical attn. to detail and clean, neat construction! But, as a sr. citizen, may I say something (somehow that must make me entitled, right??!!). Is it possible that bec. of your extensive engineering background that the boxes are, perhaps, unnecessarily over-designed a wee bit? I only mention this for two reasons: For many beginners, such as myself, your instructions, though certainly explicitly and xln'tly well-documented, are quite involving with all the metal hardware, drilling and reinforcement, etc. One and a half years ago my DH (not too hands-on) and myself made 4 of these boxes with info compiled from two other web sources - Josho's was one; can't remember the other. They are/were basic and easy to construct. But, no reinforcements, metal hardware, screws, washers, etc. involved. 30 minutes at most and each was done. They are STILL like new and show no signs of deteriation, weaknesses, etc. This is now our third season with them. Your design, as incredible as they are, seems more than necessary as far as all the metal and drilling, etc. They remind me of our two late- twenty-something sons. If they're at home and need to look up a date, phone number or see what their future plans are, they'll spend 10 min. going into their computer or Blackberry, paging through, etc., until they've gotten the info they need. Me? I need 10 seconds or less to pick up my personal calendar/address book and have the info immediately at hand! PLEASE don't misunderstand. I can't praise your work and efforts highly enough; it just seems that sometimes designs can me more complicated than necessary. I would assume that the plastic containers only have a certain shelf-life before they have to be replaced no matter HOW they've been built. But as long as they work in a real simple manner, isn't that somehow better for the majority of us less-capable & busy people? Being an Air Force brat, I always subscribed to the military mantra: using the KISS princple ... keep it simple. Just a thought, but really for the benefit of the lesser-inclined people who might give up when seeing such an involved process to achieve the essentially same outcome as we "plain folks" have achieved. I DO hope you do not misunderstand my point here. And I LOVE how you modified the AWS, too. Hope to try that soon.

Arline, a faithful follower of your endeavors

Hi Arline,

I guess my philosophy (and yes, I am a Senior Citizen too, was born when Harry Truman was President) is that if I am going to do something, do it so it lasts a useful amount of time. I truly wish you could see my corner of the garage where I did all the cutting / drilling on a small 2 ft. by 4 ft. work surface. No table saws or fancy tools other than a hand-held saber saw, and battery powered 3/8" drill.

The Container portion of the EarthTainer was quite easy to construct - I just took Josho's design and made a few improvements. I can knock out these units in less than one hour (I actually pancake the Aeration benches together 3 at a time to do all the drilling and wicking basket cutting).

The really challenging part of the project was to design the self-supporting tomato cage system so that it was rigid enough, but still would allow easy potting mix installation and removal at the end of the season. As I have had bad experiences with my prior in-ground tomato plants falling over from weight, etc. I wanted to have something that was self reliant, without trellis or external staking needed.

All of the metal wire rope clips and the cable "mast" rigging is done to make sure a lopsided plant won't topple over the 'Tainer. My goal is to have these last 10+ years, and even though I may have to replace the outer container due to uv aging after 7 years or so, the "guts" of the 'Tainer and cage system should have a 20 year life.

I am not a Mechanical Engineer, but rather into Semiconductors and Electronics technologies (Google "Ray Newstead" sometime), my skills to envision the self-supporting cage system quite truthfully, came from my younger days of playing with Erector Sets as a kid, and later from sailing boats.

I certainly share your view that "One size does not fit all", and for many, the design I came up with is overkill. My intent is that others can freely adapt from my work what best fits their own needs, and hopefully can add to the knowledge base with improvements.

Now Grandparents, the best gift you can get a young child is NOT a Video Game - - but a simple Erector Set. It has taught me a lot about physics and how the mechanical world works, over the years.

Raybo